Retired Assistant Chief Constable Andy Slattery has been made a professor at the University of Cumbria.
Mr Slattery, who is now BAE Systems Submarines head of security, fire, and resilience in Barrow has been appointed as professor of practice within the Institute of Business, Industry and Leadership at the University of Cumbria.
Mr Slattery served for 30 years in the force. His career included responsibilities for delivering all policing operations including intelligence, organised crime and terrorism.
An experienced multi-agency gold incident commander and former chair of the Cumbria Local Resilience Forum, his policing career recently saw him serve as chair of Cumbria Strategic Co-ordinating Group. The group had responsibility for overseeing the county’s efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic. He held a number of national policing roles too.
He is now leading security and resilience for BAE Systems Submarines covering the UK and based in Barrow-in-Furness.
The Professor of Practice role at the university recognises individuals eminent in their field of practice. Drawing on their talent, standing and expertise, they work with staff and students to enhance the university curriculum, experience and environment.
Support and activities can include providing strategic advice to academics, working directly with students, offering masterclasses to stakeholders, and promoting the integration of academic scholarship with practical experience that helps to bridge the gap between academia, research and industry.
Mr Slattery, an alumnus of the university, completing a MSc strategic policing in 2019, said: “I’m really passionate about people who want to learn and study locally. I was among those who had to go away to go to university; but it is fantastic that you can now get a first-class university education here at the University of Cumbria.
“Maintaining links since my masters, I’ve been able to advise university colleagues as they reshape the programme for future students. At a time when there is intense focus on security due to global events, it is really positive that the university is bringing together professionals and academics in the fields of law, policing and security to assist students in the North West who will be working in these professions in the future.”
He said he was delighted about the university’s proposals for a new campus in Barrow.
The campus is part of the Barrow Learning Quarter, which is the largest of seven schemes that are set to secure a bright and transformative future for the town with £25 million of funding from the Government’s Town Deal programme.
Andrew said: “As part of the long-term plan to invest in the community, BAE Systems Submarines not only needs highly skilled employees in technical spheres but also business and professional spheres.
“Having the University of Cumbria and a university campus in Barrow will help train and educate local people to provide a skilled workforce for BAE Systems and other employers. There is a very bright future ahead of the town.”
The University of Cumbria’s Institute of Business, Industry and Leadership offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across policing, criminology, security and investigative practice, and law.
Principal Lecturer Gary Slater said: “We’re delighted to have Andy join our team as a professor of practice. His policing experience is extensive as is his expertise in strategic leadership.
“With that, and his passion for delivering higher education to our communities and lifelong learning, we know that this collaboration will positively help the university in its mission to transform lives and livelihoods for generations to come.”
